SALYERSVILLE – In criminal mediation last week a Magoffin County man agreed to a plea deal for 27 years in prison on charges related to sexually abusing a minor.
On Thursday, March 28, Stuart Horton, 31, from the Left Fork Johnson, in Magoffin County, had a mediation hearing last Thursday for his charges of first-degree sodomy, victim under 12 years old (Class A felony); first-degree rape, victim under 12 years old (Class A felony); and first-degree sexual abuse, victim under 12 years old (Class C felony).
According to the original arrest citation from June 2023, Kentucky State Police Post 9 had an open investigation involving Horton and a juvenile. Through the investigation, Horton was asked to come to KSP Post 9 in Pike County to complete a polygraph session, which he voluntarily attended.
Police reported that once the polygraph session was completed, Horton became very apologetic and confessed to the alleged events that occurred between him and the juvenile. Horton reportedly went on to disclose the events in depth, and that the juvenile was initially around 8 or 9 years of age when the sexual acts occurred, lasting until 2021.
In court on March 28, Horton signed a plea agreement with the Commonwealth Attorney’s office, agreeing to plead guilty to the charges in return for the Commonwealth Attorney recommending to the court a sentencing of 20 years in prison for both the sodomy and rape charges, to run concurrently, and seven years in prison for the sexual abuse charge, to run concurrently with the 20 years, for a total of 27 years in prison. He agreed to undergo sexual offender evaluation and to follow through with the recommended treatment. Under the plea deal, he will required to comply with lifetime sexual offender registration, and will have five years conditional discharge after his sentence is served. He can have no contact with the victim, but the Commonwealth agreed to not object to phone calls with Horton’s son.
Horton is set for sentencing on May 16 at 10 a.m. at the Magoffin County Justice Center and he remains in custody at the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center. At the sentencing hearing, the judge makes the final ruling on if the plea agreement as it is currently written and signed will be accepted by the court.
As they have for many court hearings lately, a group of protestors stationed outside the justice center carried signs and chanted during the mediation hearing. With the recent increase in cases involving sexual abuse and/or exploitation of children, the group is protesting defendants in these cases and supporting equal punishments that would hold the guilty accountable.
Editor’s Note: The indictment or charge of a person by a grand jury or otherwise is an accusation only and that person is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
